Schuylkill County Parks and Recreation Rules and Regulations for Sweet Arrow Lake County Park All visitors to the Park must comply with all the Park Rules and Regulations while within the Park. Section 1 Definitions: The following terms as used in this policy shall have the following meanings except where the context clearly indicates otherwise: 1. The term Board shall mean the Schuylkill County Board Of Commissioners. 2. The term Park shall refer to all Park property under the jurisdiction of the Schuylkill County Board of Commissioners. 3. The term Park Superintendent or Superintendent designates all appointed members of the Park Superintendent staff. 4. The term Special Use Facility refers to buildings such as the Clubhouse, and pavilion(s). Section 2 Permits: 1. Application for a permit must be made using the official forms of the board and shall be accompanied by the required fee except where a free permit may be issued. Application for a permit may be made obtained from the Park office, the County Courthouse, or may be downloaded from the official county website (http://schuylkill.us). 2. No person under the age of eighteen (18) years will be issued a permit to use the Park facilities. 3. In the event more applications for reservations are received than space is available, such applications shall be considered in order received by the board. Applications for fee permits will be considered before free permits. 4. The holder of a Special Use Facility or group permit issued by the board shall be held responsible for the actions and conduct of the other persons in his party. 5. No person shall install equipment or make any alteration or adjustments to existing equipment or facilities without the specific approval in writing from the superintendent/board. Page 1 of 5
Section 3 Hours: 1. The Park will open at Dawn and close at Sunset with the following exceptions: a. Holders of Special Use Facility permits must abide by the terms of their individual agreements. b. The fishing/boating access areas will be open between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. No person is permitted within the fishing/boating access areas between these hours except for the express purpose of fishing or boating. c. The superintendent/board may change the open/close hours of all or parts of the Park on a special needs, emergency or seasonal basis. d. Special event or special purpose permits issued by the superintendent/board. Section 4 Fishing, Boating, and Hunting 1. Use of Sweet Arrow Lake and its tributaries for fishing/boating purposes will be in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. 2. Boats/watercraft may only be launched from designated boat launch areas. 3. No watercraft can be moored at the Lake without a permit. 4. Boats may use electric motors only. 5. Non-powered boats must have one of the following: State Park Launching Permit or Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Use Permit, or current Pennsylvania boat registration. 6. Hunting and trapping is prohibited on Park land west from the bridge at the intersection of Wolfes Road and Sweet Arrow Lake Road, to the bridge on Route 443. 7. All hunting and trapping on Park land must be done in accordance with the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations Section 5 Swimming 1. Swimming in Sweet Arrow Lake and Upper Little Swatara Creek within the Park boundaries is prohibited at this time. 2. Wading (up to waist depth) is permitted while participating in the activity of fishing, launching or landing a watercraft, or conducting approved and supervised environmental educational activities. Page 2 of 5
Section 6 Pets (Any dog or cat commonly kept in household captivity, or a caged pet such as a rabbit or hamster) 1. No dog or pet is permitted to enter any public building except a guide dog, signal dog or other animal which has been trained to assist, and is accompanying, a person with a disability. 2. Pets must be caged or confined to a leash not to exceed eight (8) feet in length except where permitted. 3. Dogs and cats must have current rabies vaccinations. Owners must have proof of the vaccinations. Dogs must display a valid license. 4. Pets must never be unattended, must always be under the physical control of a competent person, and may not create a disturbance or nuisance. 5. Pet owners must pick up after their pets and dispose of pet waste properly. 6. No person shall permit his dog, or other pet to pursue, catch, wound, or kill any bird, mammal or reptile or to disturb the nests, dens, home or place of refuge of any other animal, except while hunting with a dog on designated Park land in accordance with the Pennsylvania game laws. 7. No other domestic animals except those defined as pets are allowed within the Park boundaries except horses are allowed only on trails specifically designated as Equine use trails. Section 7 Snowmobiles and All Terrain Vehicles 1. Snowmobiles, motorized trail bikes, or any other all terrain vehicle that cannot be registered for operation on the public highways, are prohibited anywhere within the Park boundaries. Section 8 Winter Activities 1. Ice fishing, ice-skating and other winter activities are permitted. The ice thickness is not monitored. Proceed at your own risk. Page 3 of 5
General Rules. No person shall: 1. Deface, destroy, or remove any placard, notice or sign, whether permanent or temporary, posted or exhibited within the Park. Cut, break, mark or otherwise damage any building, equipment, bridge, or other structure or installation. 2. Cut, remove, chip, blaze, girdle, trim or otherwise deface, injure or destroy any tree, sapling, seedling, bush or shrub, flower, plant or grass, whether alive or dead except with permit issued by the superintendent/board. 3. Plant in the soils or waters of the Park any seed, tree, shrub or plant without permission of the superintendent/board. 4. Damage, deface, cut or remove rock, shale, sand, clay, soil or other mineral product, natural object or material except with permit issued by the superintendent/board. 5. Remove or disturb an historical or archeological artifact, relic or object. 6. Feed the wildlife or release any animals (including fish, amphibians and reptiles) into the Park. 7. Set fire to or cause fire to be set to any tree, woodland, brush land, grassland or meadow or structure. 8. Build any fire except within the fireplaces, receptacles or open spaces approved and designated by the superintendent/board for such purpose. Leave fires unattended at any time or not fully extinguished before being abandoned. Drop, dump, throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, ashes, burning cigars, cigarettes, tobacco, paper or other flammable material except into designated receptacles. 9. Smoke in any building or structure. 10. Play ball, golf, pitch horseshoes, engage in archery, camp or launch, dock or land any watercraft or participate in any form of recreation, sporting endeavor or pastime, except in those areas designated for that purpose. 11. Pursue, catch, attempt to catch, strike, molest, wound, or kill any bird, animal or any nest, lair, den, burrow within all safety zones except where the health and safety of a person is concerned. 12. Continuously cruise in any motor driven vehicle in, through and around areas within the Park. Drive upon or park upon any lawn unless specifically authorized to do so by the superintendent/board. Block the exit or removal of another vehicle. Park in a no parking zone. Operate a motor vehicle in excess of the (10) m.p.h. in the Park unless a higher rate of speed has been posted. Operate a motorized vehicle on any road not designated for such use. 13. Wash or perform maintenance on motorized vehicles within the Park boundaries. Page 4 of 5
14. Peddle or solicit business of any nature whatsoever or collect for any fund for any service or charity. Distribute handbills, or other advertising matter, post unauthorized signs on any lands, waters, structures or property under the control of the board unless first obtaining a permit. 15. Cause or create a noise, which would likely annoy or disturb a reasonable person of normal sensitivities. 16. Subject persons to unwanted physical contact or unwanted verbal behavior. Disturb or annoy others, while in the Park. 17. Fire, discharge or have in their possession any rocket, firecracker or other fireworks or any substance of an explosive nature unless the board issues a permit. 18. Use within the Park, a firearm, knife or hatchet for the purpose of threatening or causing harm to another individual. Persons holding a current authorized gun permit can use the weapon only for the specific purpose of the permit. This section shall not apply to any police officer or other duly appointed law enforcement officer while carrying out the duties and responsibilities of his position. 19. Discard, litter, trash, refuse, garbage, bottles, pollutants or any other substance, liquid or waste, including sewage or sink water, except in receptacles or facilities provided for this purpose and in accordance with any posted instructions. Bring trash, refuse or debris into the Park, whether disposing of it in receptacles or not, if such refuse did originate from usage within the park. 20. Using drinking fountains, water hydrants or faucets, springs, the lake or waterways for washing purposes. 21. Interfere with, use profanity towards, or in any manner hinder any employees or agents of the board who are performing their official duties within the Park. Page 5 of 5